Imagine an early-morning tee-off time with the mist rising above the trees. And as you’re about to address the ball, you check one last time in case a moose has strolled onto the fairway.
A moose?
That’s just one of the opportunities at the new Heron Landing Golf Course at Couchiching. The other is the chance to play 18 professional-quality holes in one of the most beautiful natural settings in Ontario.
Local golfers soon will have that opportunity now that the long-awaited course is about to open to the public.
After two years of work, the district’s newest golf course is having the finishing touches put on the first nine holes of what soon will be a full-service course—complete with a pro shop and clubhouse.
Last Friday, several of those responsible for its design and construction officially opened the driving range under hot, sunny skies by hitting a few balls towards the bush more than 300 yards away.
The first nine holes are scheduled to open in the next two weeks while the back nine should be ready by next spring. The cart paths are still bumpy, rut-ridden trails of packed clay, but they also will be up to standard by the time the fairways green up next year.
By then, the clubhouse and pro shop also are scheduled to be up and running.
Project manager Shane Jourdain (a 12-handicap golfer) said the long construction period was largely the result of the challenging terrain in which the course is set.
“Basically, we carved this right out of the bush,” he explained.
“What you see here used to be a swamp,” he added as he looked over the long, rolling fairway of the first hole. “We had to bring in over 60,000 cubic metres of fill—mostly sand—just to lay it out.”
Jourdain said the massive amount of fill was necessary because the subsoil is mostly clay and provided no drainage.
The course was designed by Kevin Holmes of MBTW Golf Design in Toronto. When complete, it will feature four different tee decks to accommodate golfers of all skill levels.
At its longest, Heron Landing will play par-72 over 7,200 yards from the pro tees. The blue tees will play 6,900 yards while the white tees will play 6,400 yards.
The ladies’ tees will play 5,900 yards.
In the meantime, the club is working on bringing in a pro for the rest of this golf season.
“We’re in negotiations [with a pro] right now and we hope to have him here by mid-September,” said Jourdain.
Jourdain added the club has plans beyond providing local golfers with a second course in the district. He intends to promote the natural beauty and excellent layout of the course to tourists and other serious golfers.
“Our goal is within the next five years to have a CPGA event here,” he remarked.
For more information regarding fees and memberships, contact Jourdain at 274-3228 or 275-7641.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
